Sign.



G. L. OARTER.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26; 1911.

1,009,893. Patented N0v.2, 1911.

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CHARLES L. CARTER, OF MARION, INDIANA.

SIG-N.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Application filed January 26, 1911. Serial No. 604,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at llflarion, in the county of Grant, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to signs, and particularly to that type which consists of a plurality of independently formed letters supported upon a frame.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a supporting frame for the letters of the sign which will be simple in construction and offer a minimum resistance to the wind, whereby the durability of the sign structure as a whole is enhanced.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the sign frame that the same may be easily and quickly attached to a supporting part, such as a building, and which when so attached will he possessed of great strength and efficiently serve the purposes for which it is intended.

A still further object of the invention resides in a new and improved form of letter which is adapted to be easily and quickly attached to or detached from the supporting frame heretofore mentioned and which when so attached will be securely held in place.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

lln describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views; and in which,

a sign constructed in accordance with the invention.

This sign comprises end posts C and D, each of which is formed of suitable metallic U shaped members having spaced arms 10 and 11 terminating at their free ends in laterally extending feet 12 and 13 respectively. These feet are disposed at such an angle as to be properly seated upon the respective slopes of the roof B and are secured to said roof by means of suitable lag bolts 14. The arms 10 and 11 on each of the posts 0 and I) are connected together by means of a plurality of spaced plates 15 which have formed centrally therein openings 16 in line with the space between said arms. Passing through each of these openings 16 is an eye bolt 17, the corresponding eye bolts of each of the posts C and D having secured thereto in a suitable manner the terminals of a supporting or a suspension cable 18. These cables 18 are tightened or stretched by means of nuts 19 traveling on the threaded portions of the eye bolts 17 and engaging the outer faces of the plates 15. Each of the end posts C and D has suitably secured to its upper end one terminal of an anchor cable 20, the other end of said anchor cable being suitably secured to the roof B and said cable includes a turnbuckle 21, whereby it may be shortened so as to securely hold the upper end of the post to which it is attached. Secured to the roof B at spaced intervals between the posts C and D is a plurality of intermediate posts 22 which are traversed transversely by the cables 18 and are provided with spaced apertures 23 adj acentthe respective cables 18. Passing through each of the apertures 23 is a binding wire 24- which is carried around. an adjacent cable 18 and twisted upon itself to secure said cable to the intermediate post.

The letters carried by the sign, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2, are each provided on their rear faces with a laterally extending wing E which follows the shape of the letter and is disposed centrally of the various parts of the latter. This wing constitutes a brace and serves generally to strengthen the letter and is constructed preferably of sheet metal bent upon itself and having its side edges terminating in laterally disposed securing feet 25 which rest upon the rear face of the letter and are attached thereto by means of suitable connections 26. During the formation of this wing E, the outermost portion thereof is bent to form a cylindrical channel 27 in which is disposed a core wire 28. The wing is further provided Wherever the same is crossed by the cables 18 with apertures 29 disposed beneath the core wire 28. A securing wire 30 is then passed through these apertures and carried around a respective cable 18 and twisted upon itself whereby the letter is efficiently secured to the cable 18 in a manner to permit of its ready detachment. The office of the wire core 28 is to prevent the securing wires 30 from tearing through the wings E and thus provide against the possible accidental detachment of the letters from the supporting cables 18.

The front faces of the letter frames are provided with a covering of sheet metal 31 which is extended beyond the respective edges of said frame and then bent upon itself so as to partially overlie the back faces of the frame. This construction serves as an edge brace for the letters as the folded portion of the covering presents a rounded edge and is of greater strength than an ordinary sheet of metal.

If desirable, guy wires may be secured to the tops of the end posts O and D and the intermediate posts 22 and carried down on either side of the roof and suitably anchored to more effectually secure the sign frame in place.

By the simple addition of a reflector over the letters, the sign can be transformed into an illuminated one, the electric lamps being placed within the reflector. By wiring each letter and studding the faces of same with incandescent lamps and providing said faces with a suitable covering, a full electric sign can be had.

The construction herein enumerated can also be utilized for the production of a rural sign for advertising purposes, the letters being easily detached so that same may be changed to suit the customer at a very small expense.

WVhile the sign has been shown as applied to a gable roof, it will be apparent that the same may be associated with equal facility to a roof of any shape, it being only necessary to alter the angularity of the securing feet of the end and intermediate posts to conform to the particular roof, it being understood that the intermediate posts are also provided with laterally disposed securing feet in the same manner as the end posts.

WVhat is claimed is 1. In a sign, the combination of a suspension element, a letter, wings fixed to the rear face of the letter, each having a longitudinal core receiving channel and securing wire receiving apertures beneath said channel, a wire core passing through said core channel, and a securing wire passing through each of the wire receiving apertures of said wings and twisted upon itself about said suspension element to detachably secure said letter to the suspension element.

2. A sign letter comprising a body portion, wings fixed to the rear face of said body portion, each having a longitudinal core receiving channel, a Wire core passing through said channel, and means extending through the wings beneath the core for securing the letter to a suspension element.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. CARTER.

Witnesses W. F. KENNEY, S. SoLoiuoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

